Southington Mulls New Fines For Graffiti, Vehicle Accidents

SOUTHINGTON, CT — If you get caught spraying graffiti in town or are responsible for a crash, it may soon cost you in Southington.

The Southington Town Council’s Ordinance Review Committee is reviewing proposals to charge at-fault drivers for fire response costs for crashes and seeking reimbursement for graffiti removal.

The council met Feb. 9 at the Municipal Center, with Chair Paul Chaplinsky presiding. All council members were present, along with Finance Director Kristina Marino and Assistant Town Attorney Louis Martocchio III.

Those two items came up during the council's Feb. 9 meeting.

Councilor Tony Morrison said the ordinance committee recently met with a full quorum and discussed both of those proposals.

Graffiti fines

He said the committee discussed graffiti on town property following resident complaints. The town has removed the graffiti, Morrison said.

“This is not a free speech issue but rather an issue of vandalism,” he said.

Some graffiti that appeared during the Apple Harvest Festival remained for about a week, he said, adding police can make arrests under existing vandalism laws.

Now, however, the committee is exploring whether the town can bill offenders for staff time and equipment used to remove graffiti, Morrison said.

He said members asked Assistant Town Attorney Louis Martocchio III. to review how other municipalities handle cost recovery and report back on legal considerations.

The item remains on the committee’s agenda.

Crash Fees

Another new proposal, brought forward by a member of the Southington Police Commission, would allow the town to seek reimbursement for fire equipment sent to motor vehicle crashes from the at-fault party’s insurance company.

Morrison said 43 other states use fee schedules for such charges and that “the charges are relatively small.”

He noted that fees are levied on insurance companies, not individuals, but said the idea carries “a lot of issues attached to it.”

Committee members were asked to consider the proposal ahead of further discussion at a later meeting.

For the minutes of the Feb. 9 Southington Town Council, click on this link.